HTC looks likely to have a very busy year in 2015. Already a gorgeous new flagship One phone and its larger variant, as well as an Under Armour smartwatch have been rumored for a release this year. Now, yet another device has been added to HTC’s slate. This time, it’s a wearable that’s neither a smartwatch or Android Wear device.
Noted leaker Upleaks hinted that HTC’s first wearable device, codenamed PETRA, will eschew Google’s wearable operating system in favor of a special OS designed by HTC called RTOS. HTC’s not the only manufacturer who’s avoiding Android Wear, as Samsung already has several Tizen-powered wearables, and Asus is rumored to be considering an alternative OS for its next smartwatch, too. Little is known about HTC’s RTOS, other than it will allow you to use apps like Alarm, Timer, Stopwatch, Music Control, Camera Shutter, Sleep Analysis, Sports Analysis, today’s schedule, weather, and smartphone notifications at a glance.
The wearable will reportedly be powered by an Intel Core-M3 STM32L151 processor to conserve energy. A 1.8-inch PMOLED flexible screen with a resolution of 160 x 30 pixels is expected, as is 3-day battery life, Bluetooth, GPS, and an IP57 water resistance rating. Once the device runs out of battery, you’ll likely be able to recharge it via a POGO Pin or USB.
The wrist-based wearable is said to come in three sizes, and have a footpad for more accurate step counting. Color options include a Teal and Lime combination, as well as a Black and Blue Gray combination. Upleaks claims HTC’s first wearable will launch worldwide, but it’ll hit the U.S. first before spring 2015 is over.
However, perhaps the most surprising and impressive thing about HTC’s wearable is the sheer number of smartphones it will support. HTC will supposedly allow both Android and iPhone users to sync up with its first wearable, so long as they have Android 4.4 or later installed, or iOS 7 and up. If HTC applies an OS-agnostic approach to its first wearable, the device will be a true novelty.
So far, only some fitness trackers and relatively unknown wearables have offered both Android and iOS support. HTC would be the first major manufacturer of popular Android devices to open up its wearable to iPhone users. HTC is known for its cross-platform app experience, and it recently opened up its Re action camera to iPhone users, too.
